STUDY ABROAD IN EDINBURGH

Marked as a place everyone should visit at least once in their lives, you’ll get the opportunity to spend a few months basking in the action.

Anyone here will tell you that the true experience lies in understanding the historical significance of the area – from the construction of the Hadrian Wall to the capture of Edinburgh in the 7^th century you’ll come out of this trip with an increased level of cultural awareness.

You might be familiar with a few Scottish traditions already, like men wearing Kilts, the popularity of bagpipes, and the Highland games to name a few. Imagine having the opportunity to immerse yourself into the culture with locals more than open to inviting you in.

Energetic and youthful due to its universities and colleges, the capital of Scotland is as much a modern and cosmopolitan city as it is a living reminder of its ancient roots, made famous through Scottish legend and literature. It is the administrative, legislative, and financial hub of Scotland, and serves as the country’s cultural center.

EPA works to ensure the high quality of our program and the day-to-day safety of our participants. This is why we take special care to have a low student to staff ratio which allows our staff to answer questions, stay updated with our student’s acclimation process, and provide guidance at all turns.

The Edinburgh Program Director, Donna Nodson, is dedicated to ensuring the safety and academic progress of our students as they prepare and triumph in their abroad travels.

Please visit our ‘Key People’ page to learn about the backgrounds and commitment of all of our dedicated staff members.

In your free time, there are a ton of different things to explore during your time in Edinburgh.

• ◦ Spend an afternoon hiking to the top of Arthur’s seat, a dormant volcano and one of the highest points in Edinburgh!
• ◦ Go shopping with friends down Princes Street or the Royal Mile and then stop for a picnic on the Princes Gardens!
• ◦ Take a historical trip down to Holyrood Palace, which is the Scottish residence of the British monarchy!
• ◦ Enjoy a cup of coffee at Nicolson’s Café where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Students take classes in English and are placed in professional work environments where they are required to speak, read, and write in the language. Non-native speakers must have a B2 skill level or higher on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL).

Students are housed in apartments centrally located in a splendid 18th century part of the city known as “Newtown”. It is within very easy walking distance of Princes Street, the main shopping area of the city. Newtown is full of restaurants and bars that are very popular with the large student population and we have had excellent feed-back from students on recent programs.

EPA students are able to make use of the full campus facilities at Edinburgh Napier University, and they can get to know their Scottish peers by participating in the many student societies and clubs. They even have some trips you can take part in if you want.

A passport is an official identity and travel document issued by the U.S federal government allowing you the opportunity to travel internationally. (It’s a must-have!) You can apply for your passport at any time, but it must be valid for 6 months after your time abroad.

To apply, go to local US Post Office or County Clerk’s Office in your area. Call ahead to find out if there are any regulations or fees specific to your area. The processing of a passport application can take 12 weeks or more. If you don’t already have one, apply now!

A visa is official permission, granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or visit, which allows you to enter and remain in that country for period of time. To study in the UK and take on an internship, participants will need to obtain a UK Tier 4 Visa. This visa cannot be applied for until 90 days before the start of the program. EPA will send out specific information at that time.

Educational Programmes Abroad has undergone a review for educational oversight by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).